Ike Taylor: Strong Possibility Bell Holds Out!

[BFritz21]

Ike Taylor says that there's a strong possibility that Le'Veon Bell holds out, possibly even until only days before the regular season:

Quote:Taylor added that Bell wants to be paid like a No. 1 running back and a No. 2 receiver combined, given that Bell finished second on the team last year in receptions and receiving yards. Taylor also seemed to suggest what it would have taken to get a deal done; by saying that the team should offer Bell $3 million more per year and given that the team’s last offer reportedly averaged $12 million annually, it looks like Bell wants exactly what he suggested he wanted in a rap song last summer: $15 million per year.

Although the Steelers and Bell currently can’t sign a long-term deal until after the regular season ends, the Steelers can offer Bell more than his current $12.1 million franchise tender on a one-year deal. So they could still, if they want, increase the tender to $15 million — and Bell has every right to stay away until they do.

Indeed, he can stay away until only days before the start of the regular season, and still get his $12.1 million. The only question is whether the Steelers would become exasperated and decide to assign the duties of No. 1 running back (and No. 2 receiver) to someone else.

I can only PRAY that he stays true to his word and holds out because then he'll go into the season rusty and get injured again!

People will say "Oh, so you think he's just laying on his couch while holding out and not working out," but there's a big difference between working out on your own and running in game-type situations that he would face in practice and then also the contact he would get, especially in preseason, and also the football moves he would make, which are often made as a natural reaction and his body would need to be ready for it.

Will the Steelers break from their usual team tendencies of holding strong and not caving to player demands or will they give glass-knees what he wants?